self-gravityn.
/ˌsɛlfˈɡravᵻti/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfˈɡrævədi/ Physics and Astronomy.
The gravitational force which a planet or other body exerts upon its own material substance, atmosphere, etc., as opposed to that exerted by an external body. In later use also: the collective gravitational forces acting among the components of a body or mass. Cf. self-gravitation n. 3.
ΚΠ
1872 Van Nostrand's Eclectic Engin. Mag. Jan. 83/2 The comet removed in space..will have but little more than the proper inertia and self-gravity due to its own mass.
1920 Jrnl. Geol. (Chicago) 28 154 The giant hot stars are, of course, the greatest known examples of success in holding light, hot gases by self-gravity.
1972 Sci. Amer. Apr. 43/2 The restoring forces that limit the height of the tides are due to the planet's elasticity and self-gravity.
1976 Nature 11 Nov. 114/1 Ultimately, self-gravity must drive the enormous contractions which convert diffuse gas into new stars.
2015 P. S. Joshi Story Collapsing Stars i. 10 The star is no longer able to hold itself up under its own weight and the force of self-gravity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1872